International Scientific and Practical Conference Baltic Defence Research and Technology 2009

The international scientific and practical conference Baltic Defence Research and Technology 2009 took place on 10 and 11 September, 2009, in the Latvian War Museum. The conference was organised by the Latvian Ministry of Defence together with the Latvian Ministry of Economics and the Institute of Economics of the Latvian Academy of Sciences.

One of the main objectives for organising this conference was the scientific study ordered by the Latvian Ministry of Defence and Latvian Ministry of Economics, titled Development Possibilities of the Military Industry in Latvia and conducted by the Latvian Academy of Sciences from July 2008 to July 2009. The study includes analyses of Latvian and EU political laws and regulations in the defence procurement area, a summary on the development of the defence industry in other countries and interviews with 120 representatives from enterprises, sectors associations and scientific institutions.

The conference was attended by more than 100 participants, including employees of the Latvian Ministry of Defence and the Latvian Ministry of Economics, representatives from the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency, the NATO Research and Technology Organisation, the European Defence Agency, Baltic businessmen from different sectors and representatives from the Baltic States’ ministries of defence and armed forces. Also in attendance were representatives from different institutions of Great Britain, Russia and Sweden.

The main development directions for military industry durability in the Baltic States were discussed and the possibilities for participation in multinational military supply systems (NATO EU, etc.) and for integration into the European Defence Technology and Industrial Base (EDTIB) were evaluated.

At the opening of the conference, Latvian Minister of Defence Imants Lieģis and Latvian Minister of Economics Artis Kampars expressed their gratitude to all the participants for their great interest in this conference and its importance to the Baltic States, additionally emphasising its significance in the soundness of state economy, in which apparent investments could also be made by military industry possibilities.

In the plenary session of the conference on the section Strategic Effect Positioning of the Research and Technology Investments of the main military sector integration theme Integration of the Military Sector into the National Economy, Chairman of the NATO Research and Technology Board Dr. Robert S. Walker emphasised the necessity to study military technologies and possibilities worldwide. Chairman Walker also spoke about the demand and main requirements necessary to implement state military technology manufacturing and research possibilities into the NATO global network.

Specialists form Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia expressed their visions and situation summaries on such themes as Development Perspectives of the National Armed Forces and Rules and Potential Possibilities of Military Related Orders. Discussions between the participants of the conference were indicative of the interest of the businessmen.

Scientists presented studies on military technologies and possibilities in the section devoted to military and civilian cooperation in the field of scientific research.

At the end of the conference, both negative and positive aspects were emphasised concerning full integration possibilities of the Baltic States into the international market of military industry and technologies. The lack of military industry was mentioned as the most serious problem in the Baltics – it will take time to achieve the full involvement of the Baltic States in the international defence industry network.

The significant improvements in the science integration of the Baltic States into the common international military research industry were listed as a positive trend. Currently the number of the studies we offer is small, but gradually increasing. Several international agreements on the implementation of different types of orders in the Baltic States are testimony to the overall improvement of this trend.

As regards the Latvian economy, this conference was stated as being of great importance because it can be considered the first step toward forming a national policy in the development and practical implementation of the military industry and science industry, which could lead to significant improvements in the development of the Latvian economy. Positive approval was also received by the cooperation between the Latvian Ministry of Defence and the Latvian Ministry of Economics, solving this issue on an international level. Representatives from NATO and the EU emphasised the great importance of not only the further development of state policy for the development and promotion of military technology and science offers, but also of its strategically correct planning, which is primarily important for the international recognition of needs and ideas of small countries.

Information prepared by:
Dāvis Stalts, State Agency Tēvijas sargs (Guard of the Fatherland)

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Last update on 8 October, 2009